BIRMINGHAM, England - An out-of-sorts Manchester United could only draw 1-1 at struggling West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, leaving them second in the Premier League but seven points adrift of Manchester City.
West Brom, who need a remarkable turnaround to avoid relegation, stunned their visitors with a second-minute goal from on-loan Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne who beat defender Victor Lindelöf to head home.
After watching his club blow a lead by allowing three goals in seven minutes to lose 3-1 to Leicester City on Saturday, Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp was asked if he was conceding the Premier League title this season.
“Yes,” he replied. “I can’t believe (it), but yes.”
When the VAR awarded Manchester City a penalty in the first half against Tottenham on Saturday, soccer Twitter erupted. The Citizens have had a woeful record from the spot, missing nine since the start of last season. But there was one player who had yet to attempt a penalty kick, and social media demanded he be allowed to take it.
Twitter wanted Ederson to score a penalty, but Pep Guardiola left them sorely disappointed when Rodri calmly converted to send City on its way to a 3-0 demolition of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs. But Ederson still found a way to contribute offensively.
LEICESTER, England — An error by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson helped Leicester come from behind to earn a 3-1 win on Saturday, with the champions losing three successive Premier League games for the first time since November 2014, when they were managed by Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool were forced into another defensive reshuffle due to Fabinho being injured, with January loan signing Ozan Kabak handed his debut. The 20-year-old's slip let Jamie Vardy in in the first half, only for the Leicester striker to hit the crossbar.
BERLIN - Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp will not be able to attend his mother's funeral in Germany's Black Forest region due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, he said on Wednesday.
Klopp, who led Liverpool to the English league title as well as the Champions League crown in the past few seasons, said due to the restrictions and quarantine rules in England and Germany he would not be able to attend the funeral.
His mother Elisabeth had passed away last month.
With soccer tactics constantly changing, certain types of players are not always accommodated.
Roles like the libero, trequartista, striker partnerships and burly center backs have become, or are quickly becoming, outdated in modern football. Other roles like ball-playing goalkeepers, false nines and wingers that cut inside onto their stronger foot have become very trendy.
This often leaves current players wishing they had played in a previous decade and former players wishing their career had started a little later. Ah, what could have been.
Most American soccer fans will remember Jay DeMerit for playing every minute for the USMNT at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but before DeMerit even dreamed of an international call-up, he overcame imposing odds just to become a Watford player.
If you're looking to watch some high-scoring, fast-kicking Premier League football, then Burnley probably isn't the side for you.
Led by Sean "The Ginger Mourinho" Dyche, Burnley has averaged almost exactly a goal per game during its previous five seasons in the Premier League, scoring as few as 28 goals during their relegation campaign in 2014-15.
This season though, Burnley's disdain for attacking football is approaching record levels.
Referee Mike Dean has decided not to officiate at any Premier League games this weekend after he and his family received death threats following recent controversial red card decisions, British media reported on Monday.
Dean was criticized after he sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek during their 9-0 defeat at Manchester United last Tuesday and West Ham United midfielder Tomáš Souček during Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Fulham.
After 73 minutes of tense, tactical equality between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, Alisson suffered a goalkeeping meltdown unseen since Loris Karius’ infamous night in Kyiv to transform a 1-1 stalemate to a 3-1 City lead inside three minutes of total madness.